Research Areas

Strong infrastructure and world-class clinical and academic expertise create a vibrant research environment across a number of key therapeutic areas.

NHS Research Scotland supports delivery of a range of high-quality studies across a spectrum of disease and clinical need. All research within Scotland lies within the remit of at least one Network or Specialty Group (SG).

Topic Networks and Specialty Groups (SGs) are the key national bodies for supporting clinical research activity in Scotland. They act as the interface between the research community, the NHS and patients themselves, facilitating the development, set up and completion of clinical research studies across Scotland, improving the quantity and quality of research within their specific clinical area.

Network and Specialty Group involvement is assessed via the categorisation of Scottish speciality of studies on the Scottish Research and Development Database, SReDA. Further information is available in our Guidance on Scottish Speciality Categorisation.